Offer for Twizel rejected; Aust. interest remains

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 2

Offer for Twizel rejected; Aust. interest remains

The Government has -rejected an offer by a Queensland businessman to buy the Ministry of Works hydro township at Twizel, reports the Press Association. The Minister of Works (Mr W. L. Young), said the offer by Mr Howard Hall had been rejected after consideration. “A preferential sale to Mr Hall would be contrary to the well established general policy of selling surplus public property by tender or auction,” he said.

“Second, if Twizel is to continue as a permanent township action will need to be taken for rezoning through the normal planning procedures. A sale to Mr Hall now could be construed, as predetermining a decision of the Mackenzie County Council to rezone Twizel. “Third, there could be considerable cost involved in amending the district planning scheme, subdivision and transfer of titles, and in meeting the requirements of the County Council to ensure the continued viability of the township.

“If these costs were to be met by the Government they could substantially offset, if not exceed, the present value of Mr Hall’s offer,” Mr Young said.

Mr Hall told “The Press” from Queensland yesterday that his greatest disappointment was in the failure of the Government to make up its mind finally to save Twizel.

However, a man not to be held down, Mr Hall is still looking for ways to get his hands on the town.

He would put in a tender if

tenders were called, and hoped to be in some way involved if the Mackenzie County Council took over the town, he said. “I was wanting to be at the stage where I don’t have to work by Christmas, and I am only persisting with plans for Twizel because I am particularly interested in the town,” Mr Hall said.

Last Friday he had bought a 50-lot town site in Queensland and would begin to sell off sections. This would give him something to think about while the New Zealand Government was making up its mind about Twizel, he said.

He had expected the Government to refuse his offer.

“It is just a waiting game,” he said.

In answer to the Minister’s concern about the cost of amending the County Council’s district scheme, subdivision, and the transfer of titles, Mr Hall said that he had already agreed to meet these costs. “The costs could amount to between $1 million and $1,025,000, and I agreed to meet that on top of the cost of the town in my first proposal," he said.